Homeless man arrested for threatening victim with butcher knife in panhandling dispute
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Carl Milton Babb, 65, was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening another panhandler while holding a butcher knife during a dispute over panhandling territory.
At about 1:55 p.m. on June 27, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the corner of NE Waldo Road and NE 39th Avenue and reported that the victim was frantically pointing at Babb, who was about 300 feet away.
The victim reportedly said he was “minding his business” at the corner when Babb came over and started arguing with him about their panhandling territory; he said Babb brandished a large knife and threatened to kill him, and he was in fear for his life.
The victim said he backed off and started waving at passersby to call the police because he does not have a phone; he said Babb ran into the woods and came out without the knife.
Two independent witnesses said they were in the turn lane at the intersection when they heard the men arguing and saw Babb reach into a pile of his belongings and pull out a large butcher knife; they said they knew it was a knife because it reflected the sun. They said that after Babb threatened the victim, he ran into the woods and came out without the knife.
Post Miranda, Babb reportedly said he had argued with the victim, but he never had a knife and did not threaten the victim with a knife.
Officers searched the nearby woods and were unable to find the knife.
Babb, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is a designated violent felony offender of special concern who has 24 felony convictions (four violent) and 12 misdemeanor convictions (two violent); he has served nine state prison sentences and was most recently released in May 2025. He was released from the Alachua County Jail on March 31, 2026, after serving 120 days for violating probation. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $50,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Another day…another crime…
Wait a second — that’s already been said.
At this point I’m beginning to believe I would rather have what illegal immigrants we have in Gainesville and send all the homeless somewhere else. If the local progressive $0ci@li$ts object — take them to their homes.
And the city wants to put a traffic camera there. Who doesn’t want to run the lights knowing nuts like him are right next to them?
Last night, at 7pm, a bum with his dog, sign, chair, & litter were in the middle of that intersection…
I guess because the median is larger than 6’ makes it ok… close the loophole! …
What are you going to do when someone pulls a butcher knife on you and the cops are not around?
We’re having a gun violence crisis and a butcher knife 🔪 violence crisis…
think a poetry reading at Bo Diddley plaza will alleviate the problem?
Incarceration works!
The easiest solution to this problem is to eliminate all panhandling. Successful cities, including many run by Democrats have stopped the freeloading on the public areas; why not GNV?
Roger: bingo! You got it!
Zinitz and the other guy offer no solutions…I wish you were running for city commission!
So this will progress to gang teritories, organized control of turf, increasing harassment of commuters – banging on windows, touching your car, damaging if they don’t get anything, groups of “kids”, and outright stopping of traffic until you pay.